Bedirhan ALBAYRAK, Nedal ALNAHHAL, Altan AKSU, Furkan ERDOĞAN, Hüseyin Sina COŞKUN, Yakup Sancar BARIŞ, Nevzat DABAK
Journal of Turkish Spinal Surgery - 2026;37(2):88-90
Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a rare clonal disorder that predominantly affects children, while adult spinal involvement is uncommon. We report a 49-year-old woman presenting with thoracic back pain and progressive lower extremity weakness. Imaging revealed a destructive lytic lesion of the T12 vertebra with epidural extension causing spinal cord compression, initially suggestive of infection or metastasis. Histopathological examination confirmed LCH. The patient underwent posterior decompression, instrumentation, and T12 hemicorpectomy, resulting in rapid neurological improvement. This case highlights the diagnostic challenge of adult spinal LCH and the importance of timely surgical management in the presence of neurological compromise.
